Brussels, 29/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 27 July, the Council of Ministers of the EU adopted without debate a decision establishing, for the period 2010-2015, a new programme for interoperability solutions for European public administrations (ISA programme). The objective of this programme, which was presented to the European Parliament and the Council on 29 September 2008, is to support and encourage cooperation between the national public administrations, including regional and local government, and Community institutions. To this end, it will provide cross-border solutions for public administrations by creating common frameworks and services as well as generic tools, whilst promoting the re-use of solutions and an exchange of experience and best practice. ISA will take over from the IDABC programme (interoperable delivery of pan-European e-government services to public administrations, businesses and citizens), which is set to expire in December 2009. The IDABC programme, which was launched in 2005, itself replaced the IDA programme for the exchange of data between administrations. These programmes demonstrated their usefulness, efficiency and coherence, and the new ISA programme will learn from them, the Council stresses in its conclusions. Particular attention will also be paid to the requirements expressed by the users. ISA will be regularly assessed so that any amendments required can be brought in. The European Commission will then report back to the Parliament and Council at the end of 2012 and 2015, assessing the efficiency and coherence of the programme in light of the objectives initially laid down and identifying any elements which could be improved. (I.L./transl.fl)